Adjustable grille



March 27, 1934. J. P. BURCHAM ADJUSTABLE GRILLE Filed March 13 1933 I722 zl 17 I INVENTOR. Jh/w-s i? Bake/mm.

' BY MW ATTORNEYJ Patented Mar. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEClaims.

This invention relates to a grille for serving as a guard or protectionin connection with windows and similar openings, door screens and thelike, and particularly wherein said grille is ad- 5 justable withinlimits as to the length and width thereof.

The principal object of this invention is to economically produce agrille of the above character, durable and with suflicient strength towithstand impact with a substantial margin for safety.

One feature of the invention resides in the form and construction of thefabricated body of the grille to give it the desired strength andappearance of sturdiness, but principally to facilitate the relativemovement of the members in the extension or collapsing thereof duringadjustment.

Another feature of the invention resides in the form of construction ofthe expansible frame members for providing a frame adapted to supportand hold the fabricated body anchored therein while permitting relativemovement for adjustment thereof.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from theaccompanying drawing and the following description and claims:

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a plan view of a grille with portions brokenaway. Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 22 of Fig.1. Fig. 3 is asection taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

In the drawing there is shown a grille having a rectangular framecomprising the outer channel members and the-inner channel members 11slidable therein. At the four corners of the frame, the ends of theouter channel members 10 embrace and are riveted to the adjacent ends ofthe inner channel members 11, the rivets 12 being hollow and cylindricalin shape and extending intermediate the channel members. Extending fromopposite ends of the frame there i are ears 13 formed integral with therespective members 10 and 11. Thus, the telescoping frame members mayslide relative to each other so as to permit the frame to be extended orcontracted, both longitudinally and laterally thereof.

The body portion of the grille comprises a plurality of interlaced metalstrips 14 and 15. Said metal strips are of substantial width as comparedwith their thickness and are woven crosswise of each other so as toextend over and under alternate cross strips. Said strips arestrengthened by stamping reverse beads 16 and 1'? thereon, the beads 16bulging from one side, while the beads 17 bulge from the opposite side.

Intermediate each successive pair of said beads there is stamped a"rivet head in the form of a bulge 18 at the point of intersection ofthe cross strips. The "rivet head projections 18 extend from oppositesides of the respective strips 14 and 15 at their point of crossing withthe flat or non-bulged surfaces lying adjacent each other. This givesthe appearance from either side of the grille that the strips areriveted together at their point of intersection, while at the same timepermitting their pivotal movement relative to each other when the grilleis extended or contracted.

The free ends of the bars extend into the frame members through a slot19 formed by bending inwardly the inner surfaces 20 and 21 of saidmembers. Said slot is only slightly wider than the thickness of the barsso as to permit free sliding movement of the bars therein. Adjacent eachof the free ends of said bars there is formed 76 a ball and socket, thespherical projection being indicated at 22 and the spherical socketbeing indicated as 23, the ball and socket nesting in each other so asto provide a pivotal bearing and anchor for the adjacent free ends ofthe bars. The shoulders formed on the bars by the ball and socketformation are adapted to lock the same within the channel members so asto prevent their escape while permitting of their free sliding movementtherein. The said projections 22 and 23 are formed on one set ofalternate bars, to extend in opposite directions to those on the otherset of alternate bars in order that the grille may be balanced inrelation to the frame.

At each comer of the frame the bar extending therein is provided with abook 24 adapted to extend around and pivotally lock with the rivet 12 sothat the grille is firmly but pivotally anchored therein.

By means of this construction, when the frame is extended longitudinallythereof, it will contract laterally and when contracted longitudinally,will be extended laterally.. Thus, the frame, within limits, may beadiusted to different sized openings and be secured in place by means ofthe ears 13. In the extending and contracting movement, the channelmembers 11 slide in the channel members 10. During such movement, thegrille members 14 and 15 move relative to each other at differentangles, pivoting about their ball and socket connections within theframe members and freely moving as about a pivot with respect to eachother at their points of intersections indicated by the rivet hea 18.The grille cannot escape from the frame and will at all times bemaintained in proper relation therewith through the pivotal connectionsat the comers and the confinement of their free ends in the hollowchannel members.

The invention claimed is:

1. A grille comprising a rectangular frame having a plurality of framemembers telescoping and slidable one within the other, each of saidframe members having a slot formed longitudinally thereof and -centrallyof its sides, and a plurality of interwoven grille bars having theirfree ends extending through said slot and bent in opposite directionswithin said members for slidably interlocking said free ends therein.

2. A grille comprising. a rectangular frame having a plurality of framemembers telescoping and slidable one within the other, each of saidframe members having a longitudinal opening formed therein, means forsecuring the adjacent members to each other at each corner of the frame,a plurality of interwoven grille bars having their free ends extendingthrough said slot, means for anchoring the free ends of certain of saidbars to said frame members for locking the grille therein, and a hookformed on the end of such of said bars as extend into the corners of theframe for embracing said securing means to anchor said grille therein.

3. A grille comprising a. rectangular frame having a plurality of hollowframe members of rectangular cross section, said frame memberstelescoping and being slidable one within the other and'each providedwith a slot extending longitudinally thereof on its inner side centrallyof its lateral sides, and a plurality of interwoven grille bars havingtheir free ends extending through said slot and bent in oppositedirections within said members for slidably interlocking said free endstherein.

4. A grille comprising a rectangular frame having a plurality of framemembers telescoping one within the other, and eachpof said frame membershaving a slot formed longitudinally thereof on its inner side, aplurality of interwoven grille bars having their free ends extendingthrough said slot, and a ball and socket formation adjacent said freeends for providing an interlocking pivotal bearing between thecontacting ends of said bars.

5. In a grille, a plurality of interwoven grille bars provided withreversely extending beads formed substantially throughout the lengththereof, downwardly extending rivet head formations on said bars atsubstantially their point of intersection, and ball and socketformations adjacent their free ends for providing a pivotal interlockingbearing.

JAMES P. BURCHAM.

